Foundation garment



Dec. 14, 1954 M. LAGUZZI 2,696,615

FOUNDATIION GARMENT Filed Jan. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- Ill 1 270 La uzzz W ll-M Dec. 14, 1954 LAGUZZ] 2,696,615

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed Jan. 23, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a II z INVENTOR. [\{gnma Zayuzzz Jf/ZEA ZF'S FOUNDATION GARMENT Mario Laguzzi, New York, N. Y., assignor to Poirette Corsets, Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application January 23, 1953, SerialNo. 332,969

3 Claims. '(Cl. 236) This invention relates to a foundation garment and more particularly to such a garment for womens wear.

A prlmary object of this invention is the provision of an improved garmentof this nature, especially adapted for an individual who has been wearing a light weight all-elastic garment and finds requirement for a garment having greater figure restraining qualities.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a garment of this nature characterized by the ease and flexibility of an all-elastic garment and yet which achieves greater control.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means comprising obliquely disposed elastic reinforcing strips for the purpose of achieving this control, particularly about the sides of the figure.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a garment which provides a firm front and a stretchable back to provide more freedom than is allowed by conventional garments.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved garment of this nature which is characterized by extreme flexibility and at the same time by relatively firm support over those regions where it is most needed.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of one form of the garment as seen from the front, a human figure being indicated in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a similar view of the garment as viewed lfrom the rear, the figure also being indicated in dotted ines,

Figure 3 is a perspective view disclosing the garment in unapplied or open position and showing the interior construction of the panels,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 4, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at 10 a front panel which is preferably comprised of inelastic material. Panel 10 terminates in a lower V-shaped portion 11, and may be ornamented if desired as by lines of stitching, as shown at 12.

The upper portion of panel 10 is curved inwardly, as indicated at 13 to provide tapering upper and lower portions. Secured to the opposite sides of the lower V-shaped portion 11 are substantially triangular insert members 14 and 14a which in turn are secured by means of zigzag stitching 16 and 16a to side panels generally indicated at 17 and 17a which are secured along their full length as by further zigzag stitching 18 and 18a to conform to the sides of front panel 10.

Panels 17 and 17a will be more fully described hereinafter.

At the rear, panels 17 and 17a are secured by lines of zigzag stitching 19 and 19a to a substantially rectangular rear panel 20. The panel 20 is preferably comprised of a single rectangular member characterized by a normally vertical elastic characteristic and terminates short of the top of panels 17 and 17a. The remaining space between the tops of these latter panels is closed by an insert 21 which is characterized by a normally horizontal elastic characteristic. The usual stocking supporters 22 are provided in conventional manner.

It will thus be seen that an adequately firm support is afforded by the front panel 10, while the rear panel 20 allows great flexibility in those portions and in those directions where most needed.

Referring back now to panel 17a in detail, it will be seen that this panel includes at its inner side a central strip 25 of substantially inelastic material, which includes an inner wall 26 and an outer wall 27 suitably stitched to the garment, and is provided with a centrally positioned stiifening member or stay 28. Additional vertical members 29 and 30 form a pocket along the line of the connection of the side panel 17 with the rear panel 20 and a stay 31 is provided in this pocket. Along the line of connection of panel 17 with the front panel an additional member 32 forms an obliquely disposed channel for a relatively short stay 33. The opposite side panel 17a is substantially identical to the construction heretofore described, except that it is split as best shown in Figure 3, and provided with eyelets 34a on one side and hooks 34 on the other side for connecting the split portion, as well as with a zipper 35 and oppositely disposed coacting halves-36a and 36 of a Zipper track.

Referring now to the inner reinforcing strips for each of the side panels 17 and 17a, these are comprised, as best shown in Figure 4, of an upper substantially V- shaped member 40 comprised of diagonal stretchable material relative to the direction of elasticity of the side panel, the V-shaped member 40 being secured to the inner surface of the panel 17 by zigzag stitching as indicated at 41. One end of member 40 terminates, as indicated at 42, near the top of front panel 10, while the other end 43 terminates relatively near the bottom of rear panel 20. I

A V-shaped lower strip 44 is provided with its respective ends 45 and 46 terminating relatively adjacent the previously discussed ends 42 and 43. This member is also secured as by zigzag stitching 47 to the interior of the panel 17.

A diagonally extending strip 48 terminates at its opposite ends respectively between the ends 42 and 45 and the ends 43 and 46. This latter is also secured to the inner side of panel 17 by zigzag stitching 50.

Referring now to the opposite side panel 171:, the arrangement of reinforcing strips above described is substantially identical with the exception that the strips are comprised of two parts which are separable along the central opening, the reinforcement being substantially identical to that previously described.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided a garment characterized by extreme flexibility, wherein adequate reinforcing and restraining resilient members are provided to increase the restraining strength along the side panels at a point where they are most needed.

It will also be seen that there is herein provided an improved garment of this character having many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

It will be understood that the reference herein to panels is intended to include and refer to the respective front, back, and side sections of the garment. Furthermore, the said front and back panels or sections may be of either elastic or inelastic material and that when of elastic, the same may be either one-way or two-way stretch and stretchable either vertically or horizontally, or both. It will be thus apparent that the various combinations may be had as regards these panels or sec tions and so that if desired, the garment may be entirely of elastic sections.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, all mat- Patented Dec. 14, 1954 ter herein is tov be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I'clairlris'f" 1. In a foundation garment a front panel, a rear panel, side panels having horizontal elastic characteristics connecting said front and 'rear panels and two groupsof elastic reinforcing-bands, eaclrgrou secured respectively to a said side panel each of-the' ndsof'a' group extending from an edge of said front panel to the adjacent edge of said rear panel, said groupsof bands each including a lower band ofV-shape'and' an upper band in the shape of an inverted V each said-V-s'haped and inverted V-shaped' band having a longleg and a short leg, the long leg of one band being secured to thefront panel and the long leg of-the other band being-secured to the rear-' panel, the apiees of said band's being in "substantial alignment along the'vertieal center line ofeach side panel, the said bands being thereby so arranged orrthe respective side panels 'of-the' garment as" tO- forrn substantially a parallelogram and providing major points. of reinforcement adjacent-respectively the'top andbottom portions of each of-thefront and rear panels.

2. The invention asset'forth inclaim. l, including a diagonal'reinforcingband extending obliquely across" said parallelogram form.

3. A foundation garment having front, rearandside panels and groups of elastic reinforcing bands positioned respectively over said side panels, each group comprising confronting v-shaped ba'nds forming substantially a parallelogram, and a band extending diagonally across said parallelogram from one corner of the latter to the other, the ends of a group being connected respectively at an edge of a front panel and the adjacent edge of a rear panel, and each gmupby-virfue of such positioning and connection serving to provide major points of reinforcementfor said front and rear panels at respectively the upper and lower portions. of each of said front and rear panels.

'nieigeregcgs" Cited in he file. of, this' pamnt UNITED STATES PATENTS 

